Spring 2013 Commencement Information

TICKETS:

General admission tickets are required for the ceremony at Brooks Stadium, seating is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and graduates will be allowed up to eight (8) tickets each. Tickets must be picked up by the graduates at the Wheelwright Box Office beginning Wednesday,April 10 through Thursday, May 9. Please note that you will not be guaranteed tickets if you have not picked up your allotment by 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. Box Office hours for pick-up of Commencement tickets are as follows:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In addition to the original allocation, there may be a limited number of "Rush Tickets" available for Commencement. These tickets, if on hand, will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on Friday, May 10, 2013 from 8:30 a.m - noon.

Tickets must be picked up in person (no phone calls) by the graduate at the Wheelwright Box Office. A University ID or driver's license is required.

SEVERE WEATHER PLAN:

Coastal Carolina University may announce a Severe Weather Plan for Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 11. General Admission tickets for Brooks Stadium will NOT be accepted for the Severe Weather Plan. In case of severe weather, there will be two separate ceremonies at the HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center, located on the University's campus.

Severe Weather Plan tickets are required for the ceremony and seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and graduates will be allowed up to five (5) tickets each. Severe Weather Plan tickets are available for pick-up until Thursday, May 9, in the same manner as the General Admission tickets by those students who have not yet picked up their allotment.

In addition to the Severe Weather Plan tickets graduates are allotted and may have already picked up, there may be a limited number of additional "rush tickets" available. These tickets are available for pick-up on Friday, May 10, from 8:30 a.m. until noon in the same manner as the General Admission "rush tickets."

Following is the schedule for the Severe Weather Plan:

9:00 a.m. College of Business, College of Humanities and University College (Graduate and Undergraduate)- student line-up at 8 a.m., HTC Center

1:00 p.m. College of Science and College of Education (Graduate and Undergraduate)-student line-up at 12 p.m., HTC Center

Should the weather seem unpredictable, please check the University website at www.coastal.edu or call the CCU Hotine at 843-349-2079 to ascertain if the plan has been executed. Because of multiple ceremonies, we encourage families not to arrive before specified student arrival time for their ceremony.

Severe Weather Plan tickets may NOT be used in lieu of or in addition to the General Admission tickets for Brooks Stadium nor vice versa. Should the Severe Weather Plan have to be implemented, only "Commencement Severe Weather Plan" tickets will be accepted for admittance and then only to ONE of the Commencement Ceremonies as indicated on the ticket.

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:

Traffic Advisory: Parking and transportation to Brooks Stadium may take approximately one hour. Please plan accordingly.

There are several options for entering Coastal Carolina University:

Motorists traveling from Conway or the Surfside area should enter CCU from S.C. 544 at University Boulevard near Brooks Stadium.

Motorists traveling from Myrtle Beach on U.S. 501 should turn left at Singleton Ridge Road, travel to S.C. 544 and turn right, then travel to University Boulevard and enter near Brooks Stadium.

Motorists traveling from Conway on U.S. 501 should turn right at Singleton Ridge Road, travel to S.C. 544 and turn right, then travel to University Boulevard and enter near Brooks Stadium.

Commencement is understandably a very well-attended event. In addition, the ceremony starts promptly at 8:30 a.m. With over 800 graduates, their relatives and guests, along with faculty and administrative staff, most parking areas will be full. The earlier you arrive, the better your choice of parking and seating. We encourage you to come to campus as early as possible.

DVDs:

DVDs of Spring 2013 Commencement can be ordered at the DVD Sales tables at the ceremony or online at http://www.coastal.edu/graduation/orders/. The price is $25, including tax, shipping and handling. DVDs of past Commencement ceremonies can also be purchased upon request. If you have questions or need further information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 843-349-ALUM (2586) or e-mail us at alumni@coastal.edu.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

GradImages® is the official photographer of our Commencement. Proofs will be sent to your home and via email within three to five days after graduation. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone or by mail. GradImages can be contacted at 800-261-2576 or www.gradimages.com.

Registering your graduate with GradImages provides them with the information they need to deliver your graduation proofs to you in a timely manner. Giving them an accurate mailing address and email address will allow them to get your proofs to you on the first try. You may also provide them with email addresses of up to six friends and family members to allow them to celebrate in the accomplishment.

REGALIA:

Student regalia permissible for Commencement exercises includes official Coastal Carolina University honors regalia and stoles of officially recognized student organizations approved through the Office of the Provost. Other stoles may be worn upon approval of the Office of the Provost.

Faculty members are asked to wear appropriate academic regalia representative of their highest degree earned. Tams are not required to be worn, but may be if a faculty member so desires.

GUIDELINES:

Students: Graduates are to arrive no later than 7 a.m. at the Athletic Practice Field to prepare for the ceremony. Each graduate MUST have a cap, gown and tassel in order to participate in the ceremony. Please arrive dressed in your regalia as time will be limited. Valuables/purses should not be brought with you as there is no secure storage available. Graduates requiring special seating, disabled access, etc., should contact Sandra Bradley-Hayes ASAP at 843-349-2143. Commencement at Coastal Carolina University is an important event for you, your family and friends, as well as the faculty and staff. The ceremony brings together all involved to celebrate your achievements. Graduates are encouraged to remember that this is a time when the graduating class and the University are being observed by our most important public: family, friends and colleagues. As a graduating student, you are celebrating the successful conclusion of earning your degree. Commencement is a formal celebration of academic accomplishments. It is a ceremony steeped in academic ritual and the traditions of the University complete with procession, academic regalia and other elements of pageantry. No one except the graduate can ensure that the celebration will be safe, dignified and memorable.

As this is a ceremonial event, we ask that all graduates conduct themselves befitting the occasion. Alcohol is expressly forbidden. Fireworks, glassware, bottles, weapons, signs and other items that could contribute to hazardous conditions are not allowed and will be confiscated. Anyone with items deemed to be unsafe or to be safety hazards will be ejected from the ceremony. Because they detract from the ceremony, balloons, balls or blow-up objects of any kind are prohibited. Cell phone use, including texting and picture taking, is prohibited during commencement. All graduates’ cell phones should be turned off and put away or given to a friend or family member prior to joining the graduate line. Any student who fails to comply with the rules of commencement may be requested to leave the line and the ceremony.

The ceremony should last approximately two hours. If you should need to leave your seat, please notify one of the aisle ushers for assistance.

Dogs and other animals, other than service animals, are not permitted at Commencement or on the University grounds on Commencement day.

To ensure a quick and safe exit, graduates are urged to make arrangements before Commencement to meet family and friends after the ceremony at a designated location.

Families and guests: As this is a ceremonial event, we ask that all guests conduct themselves befitting the occasion. Alcohol is expressly forbidden. Fireworks, glassware, bottles, weapons, signs and other items that could contribute to hazardous conditions are not allowed and will be confiscated. Anyone with items deemed to be unsafe or to be safety hazards will be asked to leave the ceremony. Because they detract from the ceremony, balloons, balls or blow-up objects of any kind are prohibited. Guests are not permitted in the graduate seating area and are to remain seated during the entire Commencement service. Taking pictures and videotaping is allowed, but tripods and monopods are not permitted. Cameras must be battery-operated and patrons must remain seated while taking photographs and videotaping. No strollers, car seats, or baby carriers of any kind will be allowed in the seating area.

To ensure a quick and safe exit, visitors are urged to make arrangements before Commencement to meet graduates after the ceremony at a designated location. Guests are reminded to remain seated until the recessional is completed.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE:

Students: If you require special seating, disabled access, etc., you should contact Sandra Bradley Hayes immediately at 843-349-2143.

Families and guests: Special seating is limited only to those requiring assistance on a first-come, first-served basis; please plan accordingly. For questions regarding special seating you may contact Allison Tanner at 843-349-2502. Disabled persons can have no more than one family member assisting in special seating, if available.

GRADUATION TALES:

Do you have a story about your efforts to earn your degree that you want to share with others? Have you overcome unusual circumstances, tried an unusual path to a degree, returned after many years, or are sharing the experience with a family member? We want to hear about it and what it means to you. Submit your story of about 300 words to events@coastal.edu.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

There are many hotels in the resort area of Myrtle Beach to accommodate you during your visit to Coastal. For information or a listing, contact the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce at 800-356-3016 or www.myrtlebeachareachamber.com. You may also want to visit the Conway Chamber of Commerce site at www.conwayscchamber.com. For accommodations offering our visitors special rates, please contact the following hotels: